Committees Department

OVERVIEW OF THE COMMITTEE DEPARTMENT:

The Committee Department in the Sierra Leone Parliament was established by the Parliamentary Service Act of 2007. The Department has an administrative structure headed by a Director, with Deputy Director, Principal Clerk, Senior Clerk and Clerk of Committees.(Note: The position of Deputy Director, Principal Clerks, and Senior Clerks have remained vacant for years.).

Mission

To provide efficient and effective clerical and administrative support services for Parliamentary Committees.

Vision

Result-oriented Parliamentary Committees, based on proactivesness, team work and proficiency.

Mandate Of The Department

The Committee Department has the key responsibility to assign Clerks of Committees to various Committees in Parliament in order to carry out their oversight responsibilities in the MDAs.

A Parliamentary Committee is a small group of Members of Parliament created and empowered by Parliament to perform specified tasks. Committees consist of Members drawn from recognized parties in Parliament based on the strength of the parties in Parliament. (Section 93 (5) of 1991 Constitution). Committees hold their meetings in Parliament but may convene outside the precincts of Parliament with the permission of the Speaker.

In all Parliaments in the world, the functions of Parliaments are performed through the Committees of the House. A great deal of the business of the House is therefore transacted in Committees. It may be difficult to consider in detail on the floor of the House the legislative, oversight and deliberative functions of Parliament. The composition, terms of reference, powers, functions and procedures for conducting Parliamentary business in Committees are regulated by the Standing Orders (S.O.) of Parliament.

The proceedings of the Committees are recognized as proceedings in Parliament. The House generally enjoys full protection under the Constitution for proceedings in plenary, which by extension cover proceedings in Committees. The proceedings in a properly constituted Committee of the House are therefore proceedings of Parliament.

The oversight functions of Parliament are performed by the following category of Committees called Sessional Oversight Committees, which includes the following;

Sessional Oversight Committees (Section 93 (2) of Constitution)

• Committee on Presidential Affairs & Defense
• Committee on Internal Affairs
• Committee on Works, Housing and Maintenance
• Committee on Transport and Aviation
• Committee on Education
• Committee on Agriculture and Food Security
• Committee on Mines and Mineral Resources
• Committee on Trade
• Committee on Transparency
• Committee on Health and Sanitation
• Committee on Labour and Industrial Relations
• Committee on Lands, Country planning and the Environment
• Committee on Fisheries and Marine Resources
• Committee on Information and Communication
• Committee on Energy and Water Resources
• Committee on Social Services
• Committee on National Commission for Social Action- NaCSA
• Committee on Youth and Sports
• Committee on Tourism and Cultural Affairs
• Committee on HIV/Aids
• Public Accounts Committee*
• Legislative Committee*
• Finance Committee*
• Committee on Appointments and the Public Service*
• Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation*
• Human Rights Committee*

The functions of the Sessional Select Committees are provided in the Standing Orders of Parliament (S.O. 70 ff). There are also constitutionally mandated Committees as listed below;

• Committee of Selection
• Business Committee
• Standing Orders Committee
• House Committee
• Public Petition Committee
• Committee of Privileges
• Public Accounts Committee*
• Legislative Committee*
• Finance Committee*
• Committee on Appointments and the Public Service*
• Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation*
• Human Rights Committee*

That notwithstanding, oversight powers under Section 93 subsection 3 of the 1991 Constitution have been extended to:

• The Legislative Committee to “oversee the Judiciary (S.O. 70 (b) and any parastatal thereto S.O.70(6e)
• Finance Committee “to oversee the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development” and any parastatal thereto S.O. 70(6e)
• The Foreign Affairs Committee to oversee the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all activities thereto
• The Public Accounts Committee S. O. 70 to oversee “Audit Services Sierra Leone” (Auditor-General’s Department)
• The Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, to follow up on the performance of public officials
• Human Rights Committee to oversee the Human Rights Commission

SERVICES OFFERED TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

• The Department assigns clerks to various Parliamentary Committees in the Parliament to provide clerical, administrative and support services to Members in these Committees.
• Through the Committee Clerks, the Department provides technical advice to Committees on Parliamentary Procedures and Practices.
• The Department harmonizes and forms technical opinion on reports emanating from Committee oversight activities.
• Provides research services for Members of Parliament on sectorial and technical issues bordering on various MDAs
• Through the Clerk Assigned, the department Coordinate and manage all Committee activities outside Parliament, including oversights, international travels and international workshops etc.

HOW TO UTILIZE SERVICES AVAILABLE:

All Members of Parliament are free to contact any Clerk of Committee, or the Director of Committees for assistance.

DEPARTMENTAL EXPECTATION:

TO ENSURE ALL PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES ARE RESULT ORIENTED THROUGH EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT.